Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference Anticipates New Era of Commercial Spaceflight

Southwest Research Institute and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation co-host the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference at Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colorado March 2-4. NSRC is the premier conference for scientists and educators with an interest in commercial suborbital vehicles. Conveners include Alan Stern (clockwise from TL) and Cindy Conrad of SwRI. Distinguished speakers will include Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, Astronaut Instructor Beth Moses of Virgin Galactic, Chief Scientist Steven Squyres of Blue Origin, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. A new generation of suborbital spacecraft are expected to come online starting in historic year 2020, led by Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo and Blue Origin New Shepard. These vehicles and others are expected to revolutionize space access with their ability to carry a variety of payloads. Possibilities for gathering data will include Earth atmosphere, solar physics, microgravity, planetary science, and space life science. Italy signs contract with Virgin Galactic for a dedicated flight including three researchers. NASA issues a draft solicitation for the Flight Opportunities program, which includes balloons, aircraft, and suborbital vehicles. For the first time, researchers will be allowed to fly with their experiments. One category is for projects linked to NASA lunar exploration plans. Applicants can seek up to US$650,000 for suborbital flights related to the Moon. (Image Credits: Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Southwest Research Institute, State of Colorado, Cornell University, Purdue University)

MONDAY

Mar 2 — Mars Society Netherlands, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Hague, The Netherlands: Meeting: Ethical Discussion on the Colonization of Mars.

Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia 2020 Chiang Mai, Thailand to be Held at Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark March 3

International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) and National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) are holding the first ILOA Galaxy Forum in Chiang Mai – a growing regional hub of Astronomy and related technology in no small part to due to efforts of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, whose patronage of the science has earned her the nickname “Princess of Astronomy”. The newly (Feb 1, 2020) opened 21-acre, US$13M AstroPark complex bearing her name contains NARIT administrative headquarters, an amphitheater, planetarium, museum, laboratories, research facilities, and an educational observatory – joining Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchasima and Songkhla Regional Observatories. Thai National Observatory, situated on 2,565-meter Doi Inthanon mountain, highest in Thailand, houses the 2.3-meter Thai National Telescope – one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Building a world class astronomy industry in Asia will be a topic of the Galaxy Forum, on which Dr. Paul Ho (BL-R) of East Asian Observatory, a branch of East Asian Core Observatories Association, will speak. Jonathan Hung, President of Singapore Space and Technology Association will address Singapore space technology and lunar communications. President of IAU National Committee for Astronomy in Thailand, Boonrucksar Soonthornthum, and NARIT Director Saran Poshyachinda will share astronomical developments from within Thailand, and Princess Sirindhorn herself will address the assemblage with opening remarks. Additionally, ILOA Director Steve Durst will present on Astronomy from the Moon, a new frontier of astronomy in which SEA is poised to lead. (Image Credits: NARIT, EAO, Princess Sirindhorn)

Mar 2-4 — National Academies of Sciences, Irvine CA: Astro2020 Meeting: Panel on Electromagnetic Observations from Space.

Mar 2-6 — International Astronomical Union, Federal Universities of Brazil, Bento Gonçalves, Brazil: IAU Symposium 359: Galaxy Evolution and Feedback Across Different Environments (GALFEED).

Mar 2-6 — ESO, Santiago, Chile: Planets 2020 Workshop: Ground and Space Observatories – A Joint Venture to Planetary Science.

Mar 2-31 — NASA, Nationwide USA: NASA solicits ‘Artemis Generation’ Astronaut applicants.

Mar 2 — Moon: 3.3° N of Aldebaran, 05:00; at first quarter, 09:57.

Continued from…

Jan 2019 – Sep 2020 — New Horizons, Kuiper Belt: Full data collected from 7 instruments during KBO Arrokoth flyby to be transmitted to Earth over this time period.

Nov 2019 – Nov 2020— Hayabusa2, Earth Trajectory: JAXA Hayabusa2 with two samples collected from C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu on trajectory for Earth return.

Feb 28 – Mar 6 — Gemini Observatory, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Mauna Kea Observatories, UH Hilo, Keck Observatory, CFHT, et al, Hilo HI: Workshop: Journey Through the Universe 2020.

Mar 1-6 — University of Chile, University of Sao Paulo, et al, Concepcion, Chile: Conference: First Stars VI.